The SME PIC runs a number of hugely successful initiatives to support local businesses having helped 322 SMEs in just the last 12 months.
Edge Hill’s SME PIC was launched in 2017 as a new strategic gateway and ‘Centre of Excellence’ to scale-up potential SMEs, enhancing their knowledge, skills, and resources to boost products, services or assist with business model innovation.
Professor Simon Bolton, Director of the SME PIC, said: “Everyone in the Centre is pleased to be shortlisted for the Business Collaboration & Partnerships Award. We’re all proud of the work we’ve done supporting SMEs from across the region resulting in business growth and job creation and it’s wonderful to have that work recognised in this way.”
“It’s a testament to the hard work of our team who have helped scores of businesses across Lancashire and more recently LCR to emerge from the pandemic stronger. I’d also like to thank those businesses who’ve taken part in the programme for their enthusiasm in working with us to innovate and achieve their growth potential.”
The Centre’s key initiative is the Innovation Sprint Programme (IS). The programme, delivered by Edge Hill’s business experts, has helped SMEs in Lancashire to develop a growth strategy to improve their processes, maximise the use of business technologies, and re-define internal structures, roles, and responsibilities.
More than 52 SMEs have been supported in the last 12 months and 88% of those participating SMEs agreed it had supported them to develop a new product, service, or process.
SME PIC has also supported Edge Hill’s business graduates who have secured highly skilled jobs as a result of the hands-on experience they have had by supporting the Centre’s initiatives and research.
Edge Hill has previously won the Educate North University of the Year Award 2021/22 and it’s Tackling the Blues project running in partnership with Everton in the Community and Tate Liverpool, has been recognised in the ‘community engagement – university sector’ and the ‘mental health and wellbeing’ categories.
The awards, which are a celebration of excellence and best practice in the education sector in the North, are judged by a panel of leading industry professionals and experts. The full list of Educate North Award nominations can be found on the Educate North website.
March 25, 2022
